Faberge egg where is stored. Faberge eggs: origin story

The egg series was created between 1885 and 1917. for the Russian imperial family and private buyers. In total, 71 pieces are known to have been created, of which 54 are imperial.

"Catherine the Great" Also known as "Grisaille" or "Pink Cameos". The surprise is lost - a stretcher with Empress Catherine inside.

Carl Faberge and his firm's jewelers created the first egg in 1885. It was commissioned by Tsar Alexander III as an Easter surprise for his wife Maria Feodorovna. The so-called “Chicken” egg was smooth and enameled on the outside, but when it was opened, a chicken made of gold turned out to be inside. Inside the hen, in turn, was hidden a small ruby ​​​​crown (the tradition of folding nesting dolls).

The idea of ​​such a piece of jewelry was not original:

The Faberge Easter egg was supposed to be a free interpretation of an egg made at the beginning of the 18th century, 3 copies of which are known today. They are located: in Rosenborg Castle (Copenhagen, in the Museum of the History of Art, (Vienna) and in a private collection, (formerly in the Green Vaults art gallery, Dresden). In all the mentioned instances of eggs, a hen is hidden, opening which, you can find a crown, and in it - a ring.It is believed that the emperor wanted to please his wife with a surprise that would remind her of a well-known product from the Danish royal treasury.

The empress was so fascinated by the gift that Faberge, who turned into a court jeweler, received an order to make an egg every year; it had to be unique and contain some kind of surprise, that was the only condition. The next emperor, Nicholas II, continued this tradition, each spring giving, in turn, two eggs - one to Maria Feodorovna, his widowed mother, and the second to Alexandra Feodorovna, the new empress.

"Memory of Azov"

Each egg took almost a year to make. As soon as the sketch was approved, a whole team of the firm's jewelers took over the work, some of whose names have been preserved (so it should not be said that the author of all of them is Carl Faberge). The contribution of master Mikhail Perkhin is especially great. Also mentioned are August Holstrom, Henrik Wigstrom, Eric Collin, etc. A series of imperial eggs enjoyed such fame that the Faberge company made several items for private customers (15 are known). Among them stands apart a series of 7 eggs presented by the gold miner Alexander Ferdinandovich Kelkh to his wife. In addition, there are 8 more Faberge eggs made to order (for Felix Yusupov, nephew of Alfred Nobel, the Rothschilds, the Duchess of Marlborough and unidentified persons). They are not as luxurious as the imperial ones, and are not original, often repeating the type invented for royal gifts.

It is possible that some other items were made for private individuals, but they were never documented (unlike royal eggs), which leaves some freedom for skilled forgers. An example of an unexpected discovery is the “Rothschild egg” put up for sale in the fall of 2007, which was ordered by the representatives of the clan in the Faberge firm and was kept among the family property without being advertised for a whole century.

Alexander Palace Egg

Alexander Palace Egg

Of the 71 known eggs, only 62 have survived to this day. The vast majority of them are kept in state museums. 54 imperial eggs are known: 46 pieces made by the royal order have survived to this day; the rest are known from descriptions, accounts, and old photographs and are thought to be lost. Only one of them, "Georgievsky", was able to leave Bolshevik Russia together with its rightful owner - in 1918, in the luggage of Empress Maria Feodorovna, who left through the Crimea to her homeland, Denmark. The rest remained in Petrograd. Obviously, most of them disappeared in the confusion, the rest (24 pieces?), along with other imperial jewels, were transported to the new capital, to the future Kremlin Diamond Vault.

There they were kept packaged until around 1930, when, as part of a general sale of the cultural heritage of Soviet Russia in search of funds, 14 of them were sold on Stalin's orders, some allegedly for less than $400. The sale was handled by an institution called Antikvariat Office. Most of them were purchased by Armand Hammer and Emmanuel Snowman Wartsky, the English dealers of Faberge.

"Red cross with portraits"

"Red Cross Triptych"

Steel Military Egg

Seven eggs of Kelch
These products were ordered by the Russian entrepreneur A. Kelkh as a gift to his wife. Faberge jeweler Mikhail Perkhin worked on their creation. Gifts ceased after 1904 - from 1905, when the spouses officially began to live separately and their financial situation deteriorated markedly due to the collapse in the Russo-Japanese War.

After the collection kept in the Kremlin, the New York tycoon Forbes managed to assemble the largest collection. It included 11 imperial eggs, a few scattered "surprises" of unknown or missing eggs, and 4 private eggs (15 in total). In February 2004, the collection was supposed to be put up for auction by Forbes' heirs, where it would probably go piece by piece, but a few days before the start of the auction, the collection was completely outbid by the Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg. Viktor Vekselberg is also the founder of the cultural and historical fund "Link of Times" and in the museum exhibition, with the same name, you can see this collection in Moscow.

In total, in the historical homeland, in Russia, Faberge eggs, which have become one of its symbols, can now be seen in four places. Among them, in addition to the aforementioned Armory and the Vekselberg collection, are: the Russian National Museum (a private museum in Moscow of Alexander Ivanov) and the Mineralogical Museum. A. E. Fersman RAS, St. Petersburg.

Eggs were made from gold, silver, precious stones, etc. Enamels and fine jewelry work were used. Sometimes craftsmen experimented with not very traditional materials - rock crystal, precious woods. The proof of authenticity is the brand of Faberge.

The cost of one egg at the prices of the turn of the XIX-XX centuries. was 3000-8000 rubles. (The Russian Empire).

Sometimes the eggs are larger than life size and larger than they seem from the illustrations: some (with a stand) could be up to 20 cm high. Traditionally, some kind of surprise was to be contained inside each. Often these were miniatures with portraits of the person to whom the egg was intended and members of his family. Egg clocks with clockwork parts (roosters and cuckoos) were also made.

"The Duchess of Marlborough's Egg"

"Egg of Rothschild"

Yusupov's Egg

Fakes and copies
One example: "Kelch Hen" was sold to Malcolm Forbes under the guise of one of the imperial eggs, which naturally increased its price. The reception was as follows: the miniature with the image of Barbara was replaced with the image of Tsarevich Alexei, in addition, the initials laid out of precious stones were also changed. Only later research allowed to restore the true identity. After Vekselberg acquired the Forbes collection, several more dubious things were revealed in it, in particular, on the official website of the collection, the green “Egg with Hooves” made of bowenite on golden hoof legs, with a miniature portrait-surprise of Alexandra Feodorovna, which, as was believed earlier, it was presented by the Empress to one of her close associates. There is also no more mention of the "Candy Egg".

There are many fakes of Faberge eggs known, and some of them, made by unknown talented craftsmen, are in themselves true works of art, but the Faberge brand significantly increases their marketable value. As a result, in the second half of the 1990s, the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, USA) held an exhibition of fake Faberge miniatures.

Museums where there is Faberge.

Faberge eggs are famous all over the world. These works of the famous Russian master Carl Faberge are the dream of every collector. The Faberge firm became famous in 1885, when Emperor Alexander III bought a gift from him for his wife. It was an enameled white egg, 6.5×3.5 cm in size. There was a golden stripe in the middle of it. At this level, the egg was opened. Inside was a golden yolk containing the same golden hen, and in it a ruby ​​crown with a ruby ​​pendant. The egg used the principle of nesting dolls. After this gift, Faberge became famous. Every year at Easter, the emperor's family ordered an egg from him, he became a jeweler at court. Faberge had to keep the design of the future product secret and make it unique every time. Soon, all the tsar's entourage wanted to have such eggs at home, and Faberge's fame reached foreign countries.

Karl did not mass-produce his souvenirs. Today, 71 eggs made by the master are known, 54 of them were made for the emperor's family. These products differ in design and internal content. To date, 62 eggs have survived, of which 46 are imperial.

Inside each egg was a souvenir. Fabergé's first piece was a watch from Vacheron Constantin. The Memory of Azov egg, made of green heliotrope adorned with gold and diamonds, contained a small golden frigate. In the souvenir of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna made of transparent rock crystal, 12 small miniatures with landscapes rotated around the axis.

The most famous egg in the world is the Coronation Egg. It is made in the form of an imperial carriage. Empress Alexandra liked the pink Lily of the Valley egg more. Portraits of Nicholas II and his daughters were hidden in it. The largest product is made like a music box and is called "Kremlin". Faberge eggs are unique, their price grows every year and exceeds their real value several times. Even despite the fact that they are made of precious stones and metals.

Faberge was not the author of all the eggs produced under this brand. He collaborated with such jewelers as Mikhail Perkhin, Eric Kolin, August and Albert Holstrom and Alma Peel. They worked not only with the imperial family. For example, jewelers made seven eggs for the Kelchs, as well as ten items for other noble families. These souvenirs are also unique, but they are inferior in originality. Many secrets and elements were repeated and resembled eggs made for the emperor. There were watches, miniatures, and a chicken with a pendant. The most famous is the Rothschild Egg. It is made in the form of a clock, inside there is a mechanical rooster encrusted with precious stones. Every hour the bird sings and flaps its wings. This egg was all this time in the Rothschild family, they learned about it only in 2007.

Faberge's works in Russia can be seen in the Armory and at exhibitions of the Link of Times Foundation. For the fund, the eggs were bought from the Forbes collector by the Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg. Several Faberge works are in private hands and in some museums around the world.

I came across a unique book by Tatiana Muntyan "Faberge's Easter Gifts". I read it in one breath, admired the photographs and paintings, but I want to know more about the wonderful works of Faberge, symbols of the devoted and tender love of the imperial family.

Faberge eggs are unique pieces of jewelry art.

Only 10 eggs are preserved in the collection of the Kremlin Museums. In Soviet times, Faberge eggs were recognized as "suitable for export" and were sold abroad for ridiculous money, at the cost of the material. What must be the hatred for their former owners and the artistic blindness of those who gave such orders?

A total of 71 Faberge eggs are known. 52 of them were created for the imperial family. First for Alexander III as a gift to his wife Maria Feodorovna, and then by order of Nicholas II for Alexandra Feodorovna.

Only one egg ("Georgievsky") was able to bring abroad the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna. It was inherited by her daughter Xenia. Viktor Vekselberg managed to buy 11 eggs for the Link of Times Foundation and sometimes they are shown to the public. 3 eggs are in the private collection of the English Queen Elizabeth II - 2 of them are imperial. The surviving eggs are wounded in museums in the United States, Switzerland, and private collections.

I'll show you some.

1885 the first imperial egg "Kurochka"

The first egg was ordered in 1985. Alexander III wanted to give his wife something that would remind her of her native Denmark, and he ordered an egg that would resemble what was kept in the Danish royal treasury. Such an order became traditional and every year the emperor ordered 1 egg for his wife, and later another one for the needy Empress Alexandra. Nicholas II continued this tradition.

This is touching and just an egg and a surprise - a chicken inside. The hen and testicle are golden, and her eyes are ruby. Inside the hen was a small ruby ​​crown. She didn't survive.

1894 "Renaissance"

The egg was made for Maria Feodorovna. The prototype of the egg was a jewelry box made at the beginning of the 18th century. , master Le Roy. Now the box is stored in the Dresden Museum. The egg in the smallest detail corresponds to the box. The surprise is gone. In the picture, the alleged surprise is the "Resurrection of Christ" egg. It perfectly matches the size of the box, and it does not have a separate inventory number. There is another version that there was a pearl decoration inside the egg.

1895 "Egg with Rosebud"

The first egg presented to Alexandra Feodorovna. A rose in memory of Darmstadt, the birthplace of the Empress, who was proud of her flowers. The petals of the bud opened, and inside was a small root with diamonds and rubies and a pendant with a ruby. Both surprises are gone.

1898 Egg "Lilies of the valley"

The most beloved egg of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. From the depths of the egg, three portraits are put forward: Nicholas II, daughters Olga and Tatyana.

Faberge created three eggs with a floral motif and the name: "Lilies of the Valley", "Pansies" and "Clover". All these are modest wild flowers, not pompous roses, not fashionable lilies or orchids. They most accurately expressed simple and touching relations in the imperial family, emphasizing their tenderness and trepidation.

1899 Pansies Egg

The egg was intended for Maria Feodorovna. Inside there is a surprise - an easel with a family tree. The egg is now in a private collection in New Orleans, USA.

1901 Egg "Bouquet of wild flowers"

Egg for Alexandra Feodorovna. Now owned by Queen Elizabeth II of England.

1902 Clover Egg

Egg for Alexandra Feodorovna. The monogram of the empress and the year 1902 are hidden along the edge of the rim between the halves. The surprise was lost even before it entered the Armory, but judging by the documents, it was a four-leaf clover decorated with 23 diamonds and portraits of daughters Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia. The four-leaf clover is a symbol of good luck. This egg is a symbol of a happy family life, the joy of marriage and love, the fulfillment of the emperor's cherished dream. The egg is very fragile, so it is not transported to other museums for display. Stored in the Armory.

1907 Lattice Egg with Roses

Egg for Alexandra Feodorovna, dedicated to the third anniversary of the birth of Tsarevich Alexei. Diamonds are attached to the top and bottom of the egg. On the bottom is the inscription "1907". It is believed that there was a monogram on the top, but it has not been preserved. The surprise of the egg was not preserved either. Presumably, it was a portrait of Tsarevich Alexei, watercolor on ivory.

1915 Red Cross Egg

Egg for Maria Feodorovna. Inside are portraits of Romanov women: Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna, Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, Grand Duchess Tatyana Nikolaevna and Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna.

The Empress and the princesses helped in the hospital, were present at the most difficult and terrible operations. A contemporary wrote that she sees the Queen of All Rus' with a syringe or an amputated leg in her hands. The Empress assisted in the most complex operations. Alexandra Fedorovna was very proud when her older daughters received their nursing diplomas.

1916 Egg "Order of St. George"

The egg belonged to Maria Feodorovna. It was made during World War I. The entire royal family was then separated. Nicholas and his son were at headquarters. Maria Feodorovna was in Kyiv. Alexandra Feodorovna and her daughters worked in hospitals in Tsarskoye Selo and the Winter Palace.

The egg is made of silver and enamel and is completely devoid of precious stones.

“This is not at all because Faberge had difficulties with precious stones and metals in wartime,” notes Tatiana Muntyan, “but we can explain it by the fact that Faberge knew the nature of his highest customers well, who did not consider it possible to exchange pompous gifts during the war” .

When Maria Feodorovna received this egg, she sent a telegram to her son at headquarters: “I kiss you three times and thank you with all my heart for your sweet card and a lovely egg with miniatures, the kind Faberge brought it himself. Amazingly beautiful. It's very sad not to be together. […] Warmly loving you old Mama.” Maria Fedorovna could not have imagined then that they would never get together again for Easter...

When you press certain buttons, portraits of Nicholas II and Tsarevich Alexei appear instead of St. George's crosses. Surprise inside - a portrait of Nicholas II. This is the last egg received by Maria Fedorovna and the only one that she managed to take away from Russia.

1917 Egg "Birch"

This egg was intended for Maria Feodorovna. They are made from Korel birch. Emphasized modest and ascetic, because the country is at war. Faberge, in his memoirs (July 1919, published in 1992), noted: "During the war, eggs were either not made at all or of very modest work and low cost." Inside the egg was a surprise - a mechanical elephant made of gold and silver.

The egg was not given to the intended recipient. It and another egg, but about it later, were prepared for Easter 1917. Carl Faberge was a subtle diplomat. In his letter to A.F. Kerensky, he writes about the work of his factory for defense, about the need to pay workers. From here it moves on to a small favor - to allow the former king to pay for the orders of the previous year. Faberge asks for permission to give the former tsar several stone animals, and with them a "simple wooden egg without luxury." Inside the egg is an equally "simple mechanical elephant for good luck." In fact, as can be seen from the bill, the elephant is studded with 611 roses and 8 diamonds. It is possible that Kerensky authorized the transfer of stone animals, since after the execution of the royal family from Yekaterinburg, things of the royal family were sent to Moscow museums, among which were these stone and bone figurines of animals.

1917 Egg "Constellation of the Tsarevich"

"Constellation of the Tsarevich" is the last imperial egg. It was never finished.

The chief artist of the Faberge firm, F.P. Birbaum, wrote in 1922: “... an egg of blue glass, on which the constellation of the day on which the heir was born was inlaid. The egg was supported by cupids of silver and clouds of frosted rock crystal. If I'm not mistaken, there was a clock with a rotating dial inside. The production of this egg was interrupted by the war. Cupids were ready, clouds, the egg itself with inlays and the pedestal was not finished ... "

This egg was prepared for Alexandra Fedorovna. This year, the Tsesarevich was very ill, was in critical condition, and then went on the mend. In honor of this happy event, this egg was ordered.

Before fleeing abroad in 1925, the son of Carl Faberge, Agathon, handed over to A.E. Fersman a number of products of his company, including a disassembled composition of two-half eggs and a stand in the form of a translucent cloud. So the egg ended up in the Mineralogical Museum. Cupids were made of silver, they had nothing to do in the museum, they were lost.

I have only talked about some of the imperial Easter eggs. Faberge carried out orders for other clients. Including for the Duchess of Marlborough, Yusupovs, Nobel, Kelch, etc. Sold in his stores and mass products. Keychain eggs were especially popular. But I'll talk about them next time, if you're interested.

Faberge eggs are one of the most expensive jewelry in the world. Truly a royal gift. The first Faberge egg appeared in 1885. It was commissioned by the Russian Emperor Alexander III as an Easter gift for his wife Maria Feodorovna. And Carl Faberge and the jewelers of his firm took up the creation of this gift.

Carl Faberge was born in Russia, in St. Petersburg. He was born in 1846 in the family of a German from Estonia, Gustav Faberge, and the daughter of a Danish artist, Charlotte Jungstedt. Back in 1842, his father founded a jewelry company in St. Petersburg, Karl also studied jewelry from a young age and at the age of 24 headed his father's company. And in 1882, at the All-Russian Art and Industrial Exhibition in Moscow, the products of his company attracted the attention of Emperor Alexander III, the Faberge company began to receive orders from the imperial court. Faberge products were also famous in Europe, so in Paris, Carl Faberge was awarded the title of "Master of the Paris Jewelers Guild". After the revolution, Fabergé closed his firm and emigrated to Lausanne, Switzerland, where he died in 1920. His sons in 1923 founded the Faberge & Co. firm in Paris.

Carl Faberge produced a variety of eggs, but it was jewelry eggs, known throughout the world as Faberge eggs, that brought him fame.

By the way, the first egg he created in 1885 had its own prototype. In the 18th century, jewelry Easter eggs were made with a surprise hen inside, and in the hen itself there was a crown, and in the crown - a ring. This is exactly what was the first egg created by Faberge in 1885. An egg presented to Empress Maria Feodorovna, who, like Carl Faberge himself, had Danish roots. After all, one of three similar eggs preserved from the 18th century is exactly the same and is stored in the Danish castle of Rosenborg (Copenhagen).

Later, Faberge made a number of Easter eggs. In total, there are 71 single Faberge eggs in the world. And 54 of them were imperial. Alexander III became the founder of the tradition, on Easter he gave his wife Maria Feodorovna Faberge eggs, after his death this tradition was continued by his son, Nicholas II. He gave Faberge Easter eggs to both his wife and his mother, Maria Feodorovna.

There are also about 15 eggs made by Faberge for private individuals. And if the imperial eggs were new each time, each time with a new surprise inside, and the company began to manufacture them a year before the next Easter, then Faberge eggs for individuals often copy the plots of the imperial ones. So 7 eggs belonging to the Kelch family are known. Entrepreneur, gold miner, Alexander Kelkh, like the emperor, gave his wife Faberge eggs for Easter. The first egg of Kelch, which is called "Kelch's Hen", copies the plot of the first imperial "Chicken" egg. But soon the Kelchs separated, and their financial situation worsened. They were no longer interested in Faberge eggs. Also, non-imperial Faberge eggs were made to order for Felix Yusupov (a representative of a fairly wealthy noble family, in the future a murderer so valued by Empress Alexandra Feodorovna Rasputin), nephew of Alfred Nobel, the Rothschilds, the Duchess of Marlborough.

Imperial Faberge eggs had quite a variety of plots: they could be clock eggs or eggs with various figures inside, the eggs themselves could also contain various miniatures as a surprise, for example, there was an “Egg with rotating miniatures”, inside which there were 12 miniatures with images of places memorable for the emperor. The most expensive of the Faberge eggs paid for by the Romanovs is the Winter egg. It was made of crystal and opals. The surprise of this egg was a basket of anemones.

Easter eggs by Carl Faberge after the October Revolution.

During the years of the revolution, some of the Faberge eggs were lost, most of them were transported to the Kremlin, where they were kept until 1930. In 1930, the sale of many items that undoubtedly constituted the Russian cultural heritage began, due to the lack of financial resources from the Soviet authorities. Many Fabergé eggs were also sold. Many of them were bought by Armand Hammer and Emmanuel Snowman Wartsky. Forbes was also an ardent collector of Faberge eggs. His collection consisted of 11 imperial and 4 private Faberge eggs. In 2004, this collection was put up for auction, before which it was completely bought out by the Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg. So some of the Faberge eggs returned to their homeland.

Today in Russia, Faberge eggs can be seen in the Armory (10 pieces), the Vekselberg collection, the Russian National Museum and the Mineralogical Museum. A. E. Fersman RAS.

Many of the Faberge eggs are in various collections in the United States. Several pieces of these miniature treasures are also present in the collections of the English Queen Elizabeth II, Albert.

Each of the Faberge eggs has its own destiny, its own story. Only one of the Faberge eggs "Georgievsky" was able to leave revolutionary Russia, along with its rightful owner, Empress Maria Feodorovna, mother of the last Russian emperor Nicholas II.

The "George" egg was created in 1915, after Nicholas II received the "Order of St. George" award. Previously, this award was awarded to his son Alexei, for his visits to the front line. Nicholas II ordered this egg especially for his mother. His portrait was a surprise. Maria Feodorovna warmly thanked her son for the gift and wrote:
“I kiss you three times and thank you with all my heart for your sweet card and a lovely egg with miniatures, the good Faberge brought it himself. Amazingly beautiful. It's very sad not to be together. From the bottom of my heart I wish you, my dear dear Nicky, all the best and all the best and success in everything. Your dearly loving old Mother."

Today, there is a whole website of the Vekselberg collection (https://www.treasuresofimperialrussia.com/r_explore.html), where you can learn in detail the history of each of the Faberge eggs in this collection.

It cannot be argued that it was Carl Faberge himself who created all the eggs. After all, as soon as a new order was received, a whole team of the firm's jewelers immediately began to work on it. The names of many of them have been preserved. This is August Holstrom, and Henrik Wigstrom, and Eric Collin. And Mikhail Perkhin, who worked on the creation of Kelch eggs.

But besides genuine Faberge eggs, their numerous fakes are also known, which sometimes in their elegance are in no way inferior to the originals. So in the mid-1990s, the Metropolitan Museum (New York, USA) hosted an entire exhibition dedicated to fake Faberge eggs.

Since 1937, the Faberge brand has not been owned by the descendants of Carl Faberge himself, who sold it to the American Samuel Rubin. In the 20th century, under this brand, a wide variety of goods were produced: from perfumes and clothes to movies. And in 2009, the Faberge jewelry house appeared, which is owned by South African businessman Brian Gilbertson. In 2007, he acquired all rights to the brand. In 2011, Russian businessman Viktor Vekselberg tried to buy the Faberge brand, but failed.

Such is the history of the most famous, most luxurious, most fabulous and most expensive Easter eggs.

Faberge eggs - a term that has already become a household name. These are pieces of jewelry that are valued far beyond their true value. Faberge eggs are the work of the great Russian master Carl Faberge, who became famous for making Easter eggs for the imperial family. Each of his works is interesting in its own way, all of them are made with professional precision and accuracy and impress with their unprecedented beauty.

The life and work of Carl Faberge

Karl was born in 1846 in St. Petersburg to a German and a Danish family. The boy followed in the footsteps of his father, who was the owner of a jewelry workshop in the city. In 1870, Karl headed his father's firm, and in 1882, Emperor Alexander III, seeing the master's work at an exhibition in Moscow, became interested in the inimitable art of Faberge. In 1885, the emperor ordered a jewelry egg from Karl, which he presented to his wife for the Great Easter holiday.

Subsequently, the imperial family each year ordered a new unique egg from Faberge, the design of which was kept secret until the very moment the gift was presented. Although other Faberge products were impressive, it was the jewelry eggs that brought the master his world fame, he even received the title of “Master of the Paris Jewelers Guild” in France. In 1920, the great master dies in Switzerland, where he emigrated after the revolution in Russia.

The first Faberge egg

The first Faberge egg for Maria Feodorovna, the wife of Alexander III, was 6.5 by 3.5 cm in size. The egg was covered with white enamel, there was a golden stripe in the middle - a line along which the egg opened. Inside the product there was another egg made of gold - a kind of yolk, and in it was a golden hen. Inside the hen was a ruby ​​crown with a ruby ​​pendant.

The design of the egg was not the idea of ​​Karl himself - the product had a prototype. In the 18th century, some jewelers made eggs with a surprise, made according to the principle of nesting dolls, with a hen inside, in which there was a crown, and inside the crown - a ring.

Continuation of the Easter tradition

Every year, the emperor continued to give his wife a Faberge egg for Easter. Not only the great master was engaged in making a gift - a team of masters and apprentices worked on each egg under the strict guidance of Faberge. After the death of the emperor, his son Nicholas II continued the tradition. He gave jewelry eggs to both his mother and his wife Alexandra. A total of 54 eggs were made for the imperial family.

Not only for the emperor Faberge created such products. Another 17 eggs were bought by private individuals, almost all of them copy the imperial copies. But things did not come to mass production of jewelry eggs - Faberge appreciated his exceptional work, all eggs were made to order for wealthy families.

The best works of Carl Faberge

Each Faberge egg is a unique piece of jewelry art. For example, the “Egg with Rotating Miniatures”, presented to Empress Alexandra by her husband, was made of mountain crystal glass, and 12 miniatures with landscapes and memorable places for the emperor rotated inside.

The imperial egg "Winter" is made of diamonds, opals and crystal with a basket anemones inside.

Egg "Georgievsky" Nicholas II ordered in 1915, when he was awarded the "Order of St. George". The egg was a gift for the emperor's mother, and inside was a photograph of Nicholas.

The “Memory of Azov” egg made of green heliotrope with diamonds concealed a model of a frigate made of gold.